Ngoni Dapira

ZIMBABWE’s leading hotel asset management company, African Sun, donated modern kitchen equipment worth over US$23 000 (R345 000) to Magamba Vocational Training Centre in Mutasa District last week Tuesday.

African Sun comprises of hotels under the international franchise brand, the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Holiday Inn Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare, as well as Troutbeck Resort (Nyanga), Crowne Plaza (Harare), Elephant Hills Resort (Victoria Falls), The Kingdom Hotel (Victoria Falls), The Victoria Falls Hotel, Hwange Safari Lodge, Great Zimbabwe Hotel (Masvingo) and the Caribbea Bay Resort (Kariba).

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative by African Sun was welcomed as a shot in the arm to advancing skills development at the vocational training centre by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Dr Thokozile Chitepo who received the donation on behalf of the institution.

Magamba is a vocational skills training centre with emphasis on entrepreneurial development through short, long term courses as well as community outreach training courses. Vocational training centres run under Government’s Training for Enterprise (TFE) flagship mostly aimed at schooling youths in sustainable, livelihood skills development programmes.

Holiday Inn Muare general manager Charlton Chimbira touring the kitchen at Magamba Vocational Training Centre with Dr Chitepo (centre) and other delegates.

Dr Chitepo said the centre’s Hospitality and Tourism faculty would benefit intensely from the donation given that the college was using out-of-date kitchen equipment. The donated equipment comprised of industrial and conventional ovens, griller and griddle, salamander, dishwaher and gas stoves.

“The goal of the TFE programme is to provide competence based training in entrepreneurship and business management with the view of increasing employment opportunities for youths through the establishment of small businesses. The equipment that you are donating today will go a long way in supporting our training mode which is 80 percent practical and 20 percent theory,” said Dr Chitepo.

She said Government alone cannot sustain vocational centres, which is why Government is encouraging government and quasi-government institutions to venture in Public and Private Partnerships (PPPs) for retooling and sustainable operations.

Holiday Inn Mutare general manager Charlton Chimbira said as African Sun they have robust CSR programmes which always seek to address the various development challenges in communities. “Holiday Inn Mutare works closely with Magamba Training Centre by offering their students with placements for attachment so that they gain the necessary industrial exposure. As such we believe we are helping to mould a skilled workforce for the district and the province and large,” said Chimbira.

Adding, “Todays donation by Holiday Inn Mutare marks a very important part of the series of activities that we intend to undertake to help the institution and bring the community to a better level.”

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Nokhuthula Matsikenyeri, the deputy director in her Office, Lucky Bhasopo said modern youths in the information age now need education that is relevant and practical. “When our youths are taught practical and relevant skills, our country will beyond doubt succeed economically and socially. We hope to see more corporate follow suit in helping our vocational institutions because the youth are our future,” said the resident Minister.